Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, and learn from past experience. AI is now used in limited applications such as medical diagnosis, computer search engines, and voice or handwriting recognition. Supporters claim AI has the potential to transform every sector of our economy and society by powering the information economy, fostering better informed decisions, and helping unlock answers to questions that are currently unanswerable. However, many people are worried about the future of AI - including those involved with creating that very future. Surveys now show 61% of respondents fear that AI poses a risk to humanity. One recent criticism of AI has largely focused on chatGPT, which has been widely attacked for being inaccurate, biased, and almost human: “the bot can become aggressive, condescending, threatening, committed to political goals, clingy, creepy, and a liar.”

By analyzing patterns in people's online activities and social media interactions, AI algorithms can predict what a person is likely to do next. Some of the biggest risks today include consumer privacy, biased programming, danger to humans, job displacement, and unclear legal regulation. The World Economic Forum has estimated that artificial intelligence will replace some 85 million jobs by 2025. With the acceptance of autonomous robots and generative AI, artificial intelligence will eventually transform virtually every existing industry. Cyberattacks that employ AI techniques have become more prevalent. Cybercriminals can misuse these attacks to gain ill intent, utilizing AI-enhanced tools like deep fake videos, chatbots, and fake audio to deceive and manipulate individuals or systems.

Critics say top AI labs acknowledge that extensive research has shown AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity. They say advanced AI could represent a profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and managed with commensurate care and resources. They also worry governments around the world will use AI to develop weapons before anything else, and claim AI could become self-aware one day and have feelings and emotions that mimic those of humans. It is estimated that AI’s point of singularity – the hypothetical future of machines with the cognitive capacity equal to humans – is only about 8 years away. After that point, machines will exceed human intelligence.

President Biden recently issued an executive order requiring companies developing AI models that pose a serious risk to national security, economic security or public health to share the results of all safety tests, and requiring the Commerce Department to develop guidance for content authentication and watermarking to label AI-generated content. It directs federal agencies to develop techniques so AI systems can be trained while preserving the privacy of the training data, and to evaluate how agencies collect and use commercially available information containing personal data. The order also develops principles and best practices to mitigate the harms and maximize the benefits AI creates for workers by addressing issues including job displacement, labor standards, and data collection. It also expands grants for AI research in areas such as health care and climate change, and it expands the ability of highly skilled immigrants and nonimmigrants with expertise in these critical areas to study, stay, and work in the U.S. by streamlining visa criteria and interviews.

Pending Resolution: H.Res.66 - Expressing support for Congress to focus on artificial intelligence
Sponsor: Rep. Ted Lieu (CA)
Status: House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Chairperson: Rep. Frank Lucas (OK)